The Great River Birding Festival May 14-16, 2004 Lake Pepin MN/WI, Red Wing to Wabasha - Alma to Bay City
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Great River Birding Festival! Imagine exploring the Mississippi backwaters by boat in search of Prothonatary Warblers. Hop aboard and ride the rails through the Tiffany Bottoms floodplain forest, an open railcar birding trip you will never forget! Visit with live birds of prey and the people who work to preserve them! We are proud to offer this exciting weekend of quality programs and events and invite you to explore our wonderful communities along the way. The Great River Birding Festival is a collaborative project of the Audubon-Upper Mississippi River Campaign and MVP, the thirteen communities that surround Lake Pepin. These communities are known collectively as Mississippi Valley Partners (MVP), and the group works to promote tourism for our small river towns and is best known for creating the infamous 85 Mile Garage Sale. The Mississippi Flyway is recognized world wide as a Globally Important Bird Area. An amazing 326 species (60% of all the species in North America) use the river as a migration corridor. The river valley also provides food and shelter for up to 40% of all of the waterfowl in North America during the Spring and Fall migrations. In the Spring, birders coming to this area can see over 265 species of migrating and resident birds. The system of locks and dams along the Upper Mississippi River has changed the face of the river and the land surrounding it creating a mosaic habitat of floodplains, backwaters, river islands, sloughs, mudflats and fresh water marshes. The surrounding bluffs are graced with mixed hardwood forest that give way to blufftop prairie and farmland. Here, Lake Pepin forms the widest expanse of open water on the Mississippi River. Incredibly scenic, rich in history, and teaming with wildlife, the Upper Mississippi River Valley will captivate the visitor with natural treasures and charming river towns. The Great River Birding Festival (May 14-16) is in it's third year and has been well received by both avid birders and novices. Festival headquarters is in Wabasha, MN, home of the National Eagle Center. Over 18 guided birding events are scheduled this year to take advantage of the peak of the neo-tropic migration! Discover the floodplain forests of the Tiffany Bottoms by motorized rail car. Experience intimate birding adventures in secluded Mississippi backwaters by boat or canoe. Add a new dimension to outdoor recreation with birding by bike on the Cannon Valley Trail. Explore a wide range of aquatic habitat including marsh, lake, river, vernal pools and floodplain forest. Tucked between majestic limestone bluffs and verdant hardwood valleys are unique blufftop prairie, oak savanna, and remnant sand dunes. This year we are featuring a number of designated family bird walks and beginners seminars. Minnesota author, naturalist and photographer Stan Tekiela will be debuting his new audio field guide to Birds of MN and instructing several of the novice workshops. Seasoned birders from the Minnesota Ornithologists Union, the staff of Audubons Upper Mississippi River Campaign, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service will be leading our trips and presenting a variety of afternoon seminars. In addition to all the great birding adventures, the weekend includes a number of special community events, exhibit hall, and two evening receptions featuring entertaining slide shows. For a full list of birding events visit our web site at www.mississippi-river.org or call toll free 877-525-3248. -- Kelly Larson Feathered Friend Wild Bird Store 3rd Annual Great River Birding Festival 2nd Annual Great River Morel Festival 2nd Annual Great River Eagle Spot Festival Red Wing, MN 651-267-1001 The 3rd Annual Great River Birding Festival Is Coming... Hosted by Wabasha, MN on May 14-15-16 2004. http://www.mississippi-river.org/birding/ Visit Our Website http://www.thefeatheredfriend.com
